Olympics -- Ballroom Dancing Not a Sport

[texcattlerancher]

The Olympics are coming up in August. We will once again see subjectively scored events. And, isn't Ballroom Dancing an official event now, or at least up for consideration to be included as an Olympic event?

I don't think a contest should qualify as a "sport" if the scoring process involves a subjective component. "Oh, the artistry of that was just fabulous, so I think I will give it a 10."

There is no question that Olympians are tremendous athletes, even if they are "competing" in Ballroom Dance. But, do you really think something qualifies as a sport when it is subjectively scored?

Sports include those contests where there is no question as to the winner -- entirely scored by an objective measure.

Alright, all you gymnasts out there (subjective component to scoring) have at me.

[Hoos]

Synchronized swimming. Nuff said. :biggrin:

[Holton181]

If Curling and Rhythmic Gymnastics can be Olympic sports, so can ballroom dancing. I would imagine it's scored the same way Figure Skating is scored: you have a predetermined routine given to the judges, and the judges rate your performance based on the skill level involved and the accuracy of the performance.

[farace]

Something about ballroom dancing just seems wrong to me when considered as an Olympic sport (or ice dancing as opposed to figure skating); maybe because I've not heard it referred to as a sport in any other context. What's next, break dancing?

But it's not the subjectivity that bothers me. Isn't diving, too, subjective in many ways? Has it ever been questioned?

[Bluestaco]

Chess.

[Must Dash]

"In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams."


The Olympic oath seems a bit on the subjective side too. :smile:

Cheers


Jeremy

[texcattlerancher]

Synchronized swimming. Nuff said. :biggrin:

Argument clincher, and so early in the thread too.


Curling = sport because it is objectively scored.

Rythmic Gymnastics -- most definitely not a sport. Subjectively scored.

Figure Skating and Ice Dancing -- not sports. Subjectively scored.

Speed skating = sport. Objectively scored.

Diving -- not sport. Subjectively scored. Great athletic feat, but not sport.

Chess. Hmmm. Yes, objectively scored, but it seems like sport ought to require something more than leaning over a table while butt in chair. Not sport.

If the subjectively scored activities are sports, then "painting" should be considered for the Olympics.

[texcattlerancher]

[I]without doping and without drugs-I]
Jeremy

Cheating would be a different thread unto itself. Lord knows there have been some East German women who could whip most of us in a fight. Heck, during the Cold War, some of the women might have been men, once.

[LIMIT]

oh my gosh!!!! I'v3 got a shot of tiddly-wink champion, and why not? Look at the other so called "sports" geesh....

LIMIT

[BMWRider]

So is boxing a sport when there is a knock out, and an athletic feat when it goes the distance? Just wondering.

[ClunkClunk]

But, do you really think something qualifies as a sport when it is subjectively scored?
Yes.

IMHO, we should define Olympic events as "athletic activities" regardless of subjective/objective. This would eliminate events like chess and curling, but keep in things like diving, snowboarding, and other subjectively judged events. I'm also not a huge fan of the shooting component of the biathlon, as I don't see how shooting is an athletic sport.

Oh and Ballroom Dancing is probably a part of DanceSport, which is a 'recognized sport' by the IOC, but is not a medal sport.

[texcattlerancher]

So is boxing a sport when there is a knock out, and an athletic feat when it goes the distance? Just wondering.

Boxing has always been the chink in the armor of this argument. But, it certainly doesn't have a subjectively scored "artistic" component.

[Must Dash]

I was once a contender for the 100 meter mosey :smile:

Cheers


Jeremy

[BMWRider]

Boxing has always been the chink in the armor of this argument. But, it certainly doesn't have a subjectively scored "artistic" component.

While I never was much of an athlete, I did box in the smokers and can assure anyone that it takes an incredible amount of ability to be good at it. Having a record of 1-4, I can assure you I was not good at it, though it was fun until I got my lights put out, thus ended my time in the ring.

[Hoos]

My original post in response was incorrect and off topic.

It should have read "Synchronized Shaving" not "swimming". The management extends its sincere apologies for this egregious error.

There would be two divisions: men and women (above the neck and below the knees only).

Points would be awarded on lathering, technique, passes required, and BBSiveness of the shave.

[Henrique]

Squash isn't in the Olympics. Probably only in 2016. Go figure.

an interesting article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/squash/6480037.stm

[Henrique]

Squash isn't in the Olympics. Probably only in 2016. Go figure.

an interesting article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/squash/6480037.stm

But Table Tennis is. I guess I made the right switch in sports :lol:

[SilkySmooth]

So, if you're 4'11" in a tard dancing on a mat it's a sport, but if you're fully dressed with a partner on hardwood floors it's not. Go figure:wink2:




==Tom

[2bits]

Do the Olympics = sport?

There is an aspect of pure sport (the love of the game) that requires no score be kept so the game is extended as long as possible.

If you keep score (and declare winners and losers) you are not so much about extending the game as about stopping play so you can all go home to dream about being a "player" - sport then is reduced to an idea a hi-story not an experience or something you do.

Any sport that stops is dead.
To live - sport - is a game that is ongoing ... NEVER KEEP SCORE

you play you win you play you lose you play

:biggrin:

[Ernie]

Even scoring sports, such as basketball, are influenced by subjective opinion at times. There are referees who can decide a game the right or wrong way.

[royalcrown]

What's next, break dancing?


I can not express how happy that would make me. To be truthfull, I see Break Dancing having a more legit claim then Ball Room Dancing, Rythmic Gymnastics, or Ice Dancing. Not to metion the music would be way Fresh.

[Rorschuck]

Golf. Sorry, guys, but if it can be done well without breaking a sweat and getting winded, it's not a sport; merely a competition.

[Walravine]

I confess to having very little interest in this summer's Olympics mostly because of China's hamfisted management of it. The one sport you won't see from the heavily censored media is the Bejing rubber truncheon competition...whoever beats the most dissidents wins.

[Must Dash]

Sorry, guys, but if it can be done well without breaking a sweat and getting winded, it's not a sport; merely a competition.

That puts a bit of a dampener on Archery and Shooting. (I believe that shooting made it to the list of the original Olympic programme in 1896, so not really a newb.)

Cheers


Jeremy

[Spaceman_Spiff]

Golf. Sorry, guys, but if it can be done well without breaking a sweat and getting winded, it's not a sport; merely a competition.

Well, that rules out the discus. Hard to imagine a more "Olympic" pursuit...

[Must Dash]

Sorry, guys, but if it can be done well without breaking a sweat and getting winded, it's not a sport; merely a competition.


Well, that rules out the discus. Hard to imagine a more "Olympic" pursuit...

Discuss throwers may not break sweat and get winded but, by the look on their faces, breaking wind seems very much part of the action.

Cheers


Jeremy

[Roman414]

I think the Olympics should be track and field, no team sports. No national anthems, no uniforms. But then who would watch it? Who could make any money on it?

[kwk285]

I think the Olympics should be track and field, no team sports. No national anthems, no uniforms. But then who would watch it? Who could make any money on it?

The Olympics should be countries vs countries. We just need to keep the #@&! governments out of being involved. I look at the Olympics in my lifetime. Most have had one government or more boycotting the games for one reason or another. This should be one event that should happen regardless of the current events.

[SilkySmooth]

Aside from the main topic, I believe once the person is a citizen of a particular country, they should only be able to participate for that country.


==Tom

[Roman414]

When the modern Olympics was instituted it was supposed to celebrate individual endeavor, which was supposed to transcend nationalism and politics. When that ideal was abandoned and flags, uniforms, and national anthems were allowed the original founders walked away in disgust and the whole thing started downhill.

[texcattlerancher]

It is appropriate to revive this thread at this time. What athletic events are not really "sports?" Meaning, what events are subject to subjective judging rather than purely objective judging?

[Gruder]

I walked into the room yesterday and found my lovely bride thoroughly engrossed in -- wait for it -- synchronized diving. Absolutely ridiculous, as far as I'm concerned.

As for folks who've dissed curling, I promise that a bit of ice time with broom in hand would change lots of minds about the athleticism involved.

[TimmyBoston]

I have a lot of respect for competitive ballroom dancers, but they have absolutely no business completing in the Olympics.

[Mrs. Chip]

To decide on what a sport it don't we need to first come to a consensus about is a sport?
I have to say, there is no way I have enough control over my body to ballroom dance, clear hurdles or be successful in a wrestling match I don't care if any are considered sports or not by some people.

[langod]

I think a sport can be defined as such if it requires a significant amount of mental concentration AND a high amount of physical control -- whether it is fine motor control or more major muscle movement. So it would include nearly any "athletic" event, and also some non-athletic events.
For instance, i would not consider chess a sport, but shooting is. By the same token, there are other sports/games that don't take a high degree of athleticism, but do require incredible concentration and physical control. Golf would be an example, as would say, playing Pool. (Yes, there are "fat" players in both, but they obviously have a degree of physical/mental skill that is abnormally high.)

Where does Equestrian land? My daughter rides, and it does take strength and can be quite tiring. It also takes control and balance, but it is really the horse that's the athlete, isn't it?

[Ltltony]

+1

[texcattlerancher]

+1

The biggest plus one in B&B history. Have strong feelings about that Ballroom dancing do you?

[masonjarjar]

If the subjectively scored activities are sports, then "painting" should be considered for the Olympics.

Things like Architecture and Musical Composition used to be part of the Olympics, but they were removed years ago. I'm sure Painting was at one point also included.